Zipper fastener members



1967 w. D. McGAHEE ZIPPER FASTENER MEMBERS Filed June 1, 1966 INVENTOR WELBOURNE D. MCGAHEE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,337,929 ZIPPER FASTENER MEMBERS Welbourne D. McGahee, Eau Gallie, Fla., assignor of one-fourth to William R. Maddux, Miami, and onefourth to Jim Rathmann, Melbourne, Fla.

Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,575 5 Claims. (Cl. 24-20515) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flat continuously curved zipper shield for clearing fabric, hair and skin from zipper teeth including an arm for insertion into an aperture in the zipper tab permitting the shield to be detachably secured to the zipper.

This invention relates to zippers and more particularly to a zipper fastener member of a construction to assist a user in opening and closing a zipper.

Ofttimes zippers become unworkable by reason of the teeth becoming entangled with hair, flesh and material such as undergarments, fabric lining, and the like. In many instances it is :difiicult to operate a zipper because the slide tab is unaccessible to the user, for example, when on the back of a dress.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a shield and slider construction with the slider positioned on the front face of the zipper and the shield located on the rear of the zipper tape and slider whereb the shield leads the slider movement to push aside obstructions in the path of the slider. The slider tab of the zipper is removably received on an arm of the shield, the arm having an aperture therein into which a hook on a string or rod may be inserted for moving the slider when it is out of reach of the user.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a zipper with a shield for clearing the path of the slider as it moves to open and close the zipper.

Another object is the provision of-a zipper with a shield having an arm for removably fastening the slider tab in a position where the slider is unlocked and an instrument may be connected to the shield while the tab is held on the arm for operation of the zipper when out of reach of a user.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of a specified embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a rear elevational view of a portion of a zipper, and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section of the zipper portion shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the centerline of the zipper.

In the figures numeral 11 designates the zipper generally, which is shown consisting of the conventional tapes 12, 13. Zipper teeth 15 and 16 are secured to each tape 12 and 13, respectively, and are meshed and unmeshed by a slider 17. The slider 17 has an automatic lock 18, and a tab 19 is pivotally connected to the slider by a tab bail 21.

A shield 22 of planar configuration is secured to the back 23 of the slider 17 by suitable means such as by adhesives, metal bonding, or the like. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the front face 24 of the shield is provided with a seat 25 which receives the back 23 of the slider whereupon the thickness of the zipper is reduced. With this construction the shield is permanently fixed to the slider. Where the shield 22 is to be removably attached to the slider no adhesive or bonding between these elements is required.

Attached fixedly to the upper portion of the shield front face 24 is a slightly flexible arm 26 which is centered on the zipper 11. The slider tab 19 has the usual aperture 27 which in this embodiment receives the arm 26 therethrough. The wall of the aperture 27 frictionally engages the free end of the arm 26 as the tab 18 is pivoted to receive the arm. The arm 26 may be provided with a notch for receiving the side wall of the aperture 27 to further secure the tab 18 to the arm 26. The arm thus removably locks the tab in position thereon. An opening 28 on the end of the arm 26 is exposed for the reception of a hook 29 which is connected to a string 31 to be pulled by a user to close the zipper. This is especially useful when the zipper is in a position where the tab cannot be reached by hand.

The shield 22 is shown in the preferred embodiment as of a continuous curved inverted bell shape, providing rounded corners to further ease its travel over materials without binding. Additionally, the edge of the shield is beveled toward the front face 24 whereby the shield moves in a skid-like manner over the surface of materials.

The zipper construction of the present invention is trouble-free in use, is compact in design, and is easily manufactured. It is manifest that other embodiments may be contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener member for a zipper including a slider, a tab swiveled to the slider and having an aperture through the end portion thereof, and zipper tapes having opposed teeth connected to the tapes and operable by the slider to open and close the zipper, comprising: a flat continuously curved shield positioned and secured to the back of said slider and said tape for clearing obstructions from said zipper teeth as said slider is moved relative to said tape; and means for detachably securing said shield to said tab.

2. A zipper fastener member as in claim 1 wherein the means comprises an arm fastened to the shield and extending to the front of the slider, the arm being received within the tab aperture and frictionally engaging the aperture wall to removably lock the tab on the arm in a position where the zipper is in unlocked condition. 3. A zipper fastener member as in claim 1 wherein the shield is bell-shaped and the corners of the shield are rounded, and the edge of the shield is beveled toward the rear of the slider such that the shield slides over material as the zipper is opened and closed.

4. A zipper fastener member as in claim 2 wherein the arm is provided with an aperture through an end portion, the end portion extending beyond the position of the tab when locked on-the arm whereby a hook may be applied to the aperture of the arm to enable moving of the slider and shield as a unit.

5. A zipper fastener member as defined in claim 2 wherein said arm is flexible so as to frictionally engage said tab and includes a notch therein for detachably securing said arm to said tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,445 10/ 1939 LArnie 24205.15 2,631,347 3/1953 Rinehart 24-205.15 2,671,259 3/1954 Rinehart 24205.15 2,677,162 5/1954 Foltis 24205.15 X 2,819,505 l/ 1958 Marcellus 24-205 .15 3,122,809 3/ 1964 Shee.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FASTENER MEMBER FOR A ZIPPER INCLUDING A SLIDER, A TAB SWIVELED TO THE SLIDER AND HAVING AN APERTURE THROUGH THE END PORTION THEREOF, AND ZIPPER TAPES HAVING OPPOSED TEETH CONNECTED TO THE TAPES AND OPERABLE BY THE SLIDER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE ZIPPER, COMPRISING: A FLAT CONTINUOUSLY CURVED SHIELD POSITIONED AND SECURED TO THE 